Friction lining and method of forming same



pril 26, 1927.

1. L. GATKE FRICTIO LINING AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Aug. 15,1923 m m w my 4 k m Patented Apr. 26,1927. 1,626,403

UNITED STATEStPATENT. OFFICE.

THOMAS L GATKE, 01 OAK BARK, ILLINOIS. 131615611 LDTIHG AND METHOD OFFOBKIHG SAME. Applteetlon fledmugust 15, 1938. emu Io BS'IJBO.

The invention relates to friction linings Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofa vehicle brake such as are ada table for use in the facing bandequipped with the friction liningan of brakes, clutc es and othersimilarly o Fi 6 is an enlarged fragmentary etail crating devices, andresides in a novel y base on the showing in 1g. 5.

s constructed friction lining for association It will be observed in thedrawing that 60 with a curved backing element. the friction lining ofthe invention is a One object of the invention is to promolded productwhich is structurally adaptvide a friction lining of non-flexible ricedfor association with a backing element tion material which may bereadily fitted to having any degree of curvature. The fric- 10 a backingelement having any degree of tion material entering into the frictionlincurvature. ing is preferably a non-flexible composition Anotherob]ect of the invention is to ofasbestos and a binder, which compositionrovide a method of forming the friction is molded and cured, in asuitable press unmmgb der pressure and heat treatment, into a re- Thefriction lining comprising the subsuiting non-flexible grainlessfriction mate- 70 ject matter of the invention is saliently rial havingexcellent frictional qualities. characterized by a plurality of fiexiblcon- The composition has been used to a la! e nected non-flexibleportions, and em odies extent in friction linings which are special iy apractical adaptation of a molded non- Sha ed in manufacture for theparticular flexible friction material to a new use as a bac ing elementsfor which they are intend- 75 friction lining for association with acurved ed in use, but has not heretofore been sucbacking element.cessfully used with curvedbacking ele- While the foregoing statementsare indicments requiring friction linings which must ative of the natureof the invention, other conform thereto without special shaping inobjects and advantages not herein specificalmanufacture and sub uentfitting. 8 ly referred to will be a preciated upon a The frictionmateria is referred to in full com rehension of t e novel features thisdisclosure as being non-flexible but resente in the construction andmanner the material is not absolutely non-flexible-- of application ofthe friction lining and in in the sense that it will not yield at all toits method of formation. bending stresses-since it will yield slight- Inorder that the invention may be readi- 1%. The degree of yield, however,is so little ly understood, an exem lifying embodiment t at,whenconsidered in connection with of the same is set f0 in theaccompanyyieldable friction linings of fabric and the ing drawin and inthe following descriplike such as are structurally suited for ready 35tion based t ereon. The invention is obviconformation to curvedelements, the maously susceptible of embodiment in other tcrial is mostappropriately referred to as slightly varied structural formationswithnon-yieldable. out departure from the essence of the inven- Thefriction lining is preferably embodied tion and without sacrifice of itsmaterial adas a substantially rectan lar strip 10 comvantages, whereforeit is to be understood posed of the non-flexibe composition 11 that thedrawing and description are to be above referred to and a reinforcement12 of considered in an illustrative and not in any flexible materialwhich is encase in the unnecessarily limiting sense. composition adacent one face of the strip.

In the drawing, plurality of deep transversely disposed 45 Fig. 1 is avertical section through a grooves 13 of preferably V-shapedcrom-secpress in which a sheet of the friction lining tion are impressedin t face of the strip is about to be formed, showing the press oppositethe reinforcement. The grooyes in its open posi ion extend inwardlysubstantially to the rem- Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the lineforcement and are ositioned n arallellsm 50 2-2 of Fig. 1; at regularinterva s longitudina ly of the Fig. 3 is a vertical sectioncorrespondisizg stri whereby to constitute, in effect a pluto Fig. 2 butshowing the press in its clo rahty of non-flexible rectangular fposition; rtions It which are; arran d substan- Fi 4 is a perspectiveview of a strip of tmlly e -to-edge relatlon an are m the ictionliniiig; connec one face of the strlp by a plurality of shortintervening webs 15 composed of the flexible reinforcement 12 encased ina thin and consequently yieldable covering of the non-flexible frictionmaterial 11.

The reinforcement 12 may consist of any suitable flexible material suchas wire mesh, woven wire, metal bands, or fabric in any suitableform-the only primary requisite being flexibility combined with acertain amount of open-work to permit the friction composition 11 toflow about and encase the flexible material during the process offormation.

It will be appreciated, from the construction above described, that thestrip of friction material may be readily bent at the flexible webs 15to conform with the surface of a backing element such, for example, as avehicle brake band 16, and that, when the strip is thus bent, theV-shaped interstices between the non-flexible portions 13 will be closedto an extent which is dependent upon the degree of curvature of thebacking element and the original Under some conditions in service, itmay be desirable to have the friction surface presented by thenon-flexible portions 14 substantiall continuous, and this may beaccomplished y using a strip of the friction material which has theangles of the grooves therein unusually acute whereby to cause theportions 14 to approximately abut each other in slightly angularrelation when bent at the flexible webs 15 to conform to the surface ofa backing element. After the strip of friction material has been bentinto substantial conformity with the surface of the backing element, itmay be secured thereto by counter-sunk rivets, which is the manner inwhich flexible friction linings are usually attached. The outer frictionsurface presented by the strip of friction lining when first attached isslightly polygonal, it will be appreciated, but the rivets serve to givethe approximate proper curvature-to the sections with which associatedand the heat and pressure incident to the initial applications of thebreak or clutch to the linin serves to re-mold and cure the lining in sustantially perfect form for use. l

The method presented for forming the friction lining consists in placinga preferably large the bottom receptacle-like portion 17 of an suitablemolding press, placing a correspon ingly sized sheet of the previouslycompounded friction material in a plastic condition on thereinforcement, and closin the top transversely ribbed portion 18 o thepress down on the material under such a high pressure, with such heat,and for such a time as is necessary to effect the proper curing of thefriction material. This press operation and treatment forms the contentsangles of the grooves.

sheet of the reinforcement 12 in of the press into a unified sheet offriction material composed of a plurality of fiexibly connectednon-flexible portions. The sheet irbay then be cut into a plurality ofthe strips During the forming operation, the composition is flowedthrough and about the meshes of the reinforcement to encase completelythe same, and is solidified into a hard grainless non-flexible andnon-heat conducting friction material. Under some circumstances it maybe found desirable to place the reinforcement on the top of the frictionmaterialin the press instead of placing the material on thereinforcement as above described.

The friction material, when in use, is placed with the reinforcementside of the same against the curved face of the backing element to whichthe strip is attached whereby to present outwardly to the brake drum orother co-acting element of the device with which associated a pluralityof closely arranged friction blocks having interstices therebetween. Theinterstices advantageous- Iy serve to maintain the friction surfacesclear of detrimental foreign matter by providing numerous points ofegress for such matter. The friction material functions in an extremelyeflicient manner to dissipate the heat generated by the friction and tohold the opposed relatively movable elements of the device with whichassociated against movement with a positive cushioning action devoid ofany sudden gripping or slipping. Owing to its novel construction, thefriction llning may be readily conformed to a backing element having anydegree of curvature with the facility ex erienced in applying the usualflexible fa rie friction lining to a curved backing element.

In order to provide a strip of the friction lining for use with abacking element which is longer than a single strip as produced, two ormore of the strips may be spliced together at adjoining ends. or thispurpose the strips as produced may be provided at each of their endswith two tongues 19 and 20 which project in the same direction and arearranged at opposite sides and flush with opposite faces of the strips.By this arrangement the tongues on the end of any strip will interfitwith those on the adjoining end of the next strip and will present aneat connection which does not necessitate a joint at one place thatextends entirely across the width of the strips.

claim:

1. A strip of friction lining composed of a plurality of relativelynon-flexi le portions integrally connected with each other by means of aplurality of flexible intervening webs of a. reinforcing materialincorporated in the non-flexible portions.

.2, A strip of iction hning composed of i a plurality of relativelygrooves a plurality of relatively non-flexible portions integrallconnects with each other by means 0 a plurality of flexible interveningwebs of a reinforcing material incorporate iii the non-flexibleport'ons, said webs being disposed flush with one face of the strip.

3. A strip of friction lining composed of a plurality of relatively longand thick nonflexible portions integrally connected with each other bymeans of a lurality of relatively short and thin flexi 1e webs of areinforcing material incorporated in the nonflexible portions.

4. A strip of friction lining composed of a plurality of relatively longand thick nonflexible portions integrally connected with each other bymeans of a plurality of relatively short and thin flexible Webs of areinforcing material incorporated in the nonflexible portions, said websbeing disposed flush with the rear face of the strip.

5. A strip of friction lining composed of non-flexi le portions of amolded friction material connected by a plurality of flexible webs of areinforcing Inaterial molded integrally with material within the regularcontour of the strip. 7.

6. A strip of friction lining com sed of a plurality of relativelynon-flexi le portions of a friction material connected by a plurality offlexible webs of wiremesh covered with the friction material.

7. A strip of friction lining of generally uniform thickness having aplurality of parallel grooves extending transversely in one face of thestri whereby to constitute a plurality of close y arranged non-flexiblerectangular portions between the coves connected by a plurality offlexib e webs at the grooves.

8. A strip of friction lining of generally uniform thickness having aplurality of parallel narrow inwardly converging extending transverselyin one face of the strip at regular intervals longitudinally of thesame, whereby to constitute a plurality of relatively long and thicknonflexible portions between the grooves connected by a plurality ofrelatively short and thin flexible webs disposed flush with one face ofthe strip at the grooves.

9. A strip of non-flexible friction material, a reinforcement offlexible material in the stri adjacent one face of the same, and a pluraity of grooves extending transversely in the other face of the stripwith their bottoms adjacent the reinforcement, whereby to constitute aplurality of flexibly connected relativel non-flexible portions havinginterstices t erebetween.

10. A method of forming a flexible strip of friction lining withnon-flexible friction material, which consists in molding under pressurea quantity of non-flexible friction material about a reinforcement offlexible material disposed in the friction material adjacent one face ofthe same, and forming transverse grooves at regular intervals in theother face of the friction material with the bottoms of the groovesadjacent the reinforcement.

11. A relatively long and narrow onepiece strip of friction material forlining contiguously a curved backing element, characterized by aplurality of grooves in the friction material extending at regularintervals from oneside of the strip to the other in the friction face ofthe-same to dissipate heat, to receive foreign matter from the frictionface, and to facilitate conformation of the strip to the curvature ofthe backing element, the grooves being so proportioned as to occupy butrelatively small portions of the strip, and the portions of the stripbetween the grooves being substantially uniform in thickness from grooveto groove to present extended friction surfaces.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS L. GATKE.

- a plurality of relatively non-flexi a plurality of relativelynon-flexible portions integrall connected with each other by means 0 apluralit of flexible intervemn webs of a reinforcing materialincorporate iii the non-flexible portions, said webs being disposedflush with one face of the strip.

3. A strip of friction lining compose of a plurality of relatively longand thick nonfiexible portions integrally connected with each other bymeans of a plurality of relatively short and thin flexible webs of areinforcing material incorporated in the nonflexible portions.

4. A strip of friction lining composed of a plurality of relatively longand thick nonflexible portions integrally connected with each other bymeans of a plurality of relatively short and thin flexible webs of areinforcing material incorporated in the nonfiexible portions, said websbeing disposed flush with the rear face of the strip.

5. A strip of friction lining composed of le portions of a moldedfriction material connected by a plurality of flexible webs of areinforcing Inaterial molded integrally with material within the regularcontour of the strip. w

6. A strip of friction lining com osed of a plurality of relativelynon-flexible portions of a friction material connected by a plurality offlexible webs of wire mesh covered with the friction material.

7. A strip of friction lining of generally uniform thickness having aplurality of parallel grooves extending transversely in one face of thestri whereby to constitute a plurality of close y arranged non-flexiblerectangular portions between the ooves connected by a plurality offlexib e webs at the grooves.

8. A strip of friction lining of generally uniform thickness having aplurality of parallel narrow inwardly converging I grooves extendingtransversely in one face of the strip at regular intervalslongitudinally of the same, whereby to constitute a plurality ofrelatively long and thick nonflexible portions between the groovesconnected by a plurality of relatively short and thin flexible websdisposed flush with one face of the strip at the grooves.

9. A stri of non-flexible friction material, a rein orcement of flexiblematerial in the stri adjacent one face of the same, and a plurality ofgrooves extending transversely in the other face of the strip with theirbottoms adjacent the reinforcement, whereby to constitute a plurality offlexibly connected relatively non-flexible portions having intersticestherebetween.

10. A method of forming a flexible strip of friction lining withnon-flexible friction material, which consists in molding under preszurea quantity of non-flexible friction material about a reinforcement offlexible material disposed in the friction material adjacent one face ofthe same, and forming transverse grooves at regular intervals in theother face of the friction material with the bottoms of the groovesadjacent the reinforcement.

11. A relatively long and narrow onepiece strip of friction material forlining contiguously a curved backing element, characterized by aplurality of grooves in the friction material extending at regularintervals from one'side of the strip to the other in the friction faceof thesame to dissipate heat, to receive foreign matter from thefriction face, and to facilitate conformation of the strip to thecurvature of the backing element, the grooves being so proportioned asto occupy but relatively small portions of the strip, and the portionsof the strip between the grooves being substantially uniform inthickness from groove to groove to present extended friction surfaces.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS L. GATKE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,626,403

Granted April 26, 1927, to

moms L. GATKE. 7

It. is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 3,line 27, claim. 5, before the word "material" insert the words "thefiction"; and that the said Lettors Patent ehouldbe read with thiscorrection therein that the eam'e may conform to'the record of the'caeein the Patent Office.

Signedand celled this 7th day of June, A. D. 1927.

Seal.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patente.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,626,403. Granted April 26. 1927, to

THOMAS L. GATKE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 27, claim 5, before the word "material" insert the words "thefriction"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the easein the Patent Office.

This Certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued June 7,1927.

Signed and sealed this Zlst day of June, A. D. 1927.

M. J. MOORE. Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,626,403. Granted April 26. 1927, to

THOMAS L. GATKE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 27, claim 5, before the word "material" insert the words "thefriction"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

This Certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued June 7,1927.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of June, A. D. 1927.

M. .l. MOORE. Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents.

